Today, I found myself reading the passage that the url-link of this blog was inspired by. “I-must-decrease” comes from John 3. John testifies to a Jew who questions John’s baptism vs. Jesus’ baptism. John speaks of his joy, his joy made complete because of Jesus’ coming. And John’s joy beautifully humbles him to see Jesus once […]
Grace
Words from the journal today, back to define “grace” — something we often don’t define well. This is a reposting of a blog I wrote years ago, in 2015, that started with words right from this journal: For years, I cheapened grace to a coat of paint. I kept my chains, my prison cell, my strongholds. […]
And now, God, do it again
It seemed like a dream, too good to be true,when God returned Zion’s exiles.We laughed, we sang,we couldn’t believe our good fortune.We were the talk of the nations–“God was wonderful to them!”God was wonderful to us;we are one happy people.And now, God, do it again–bring rains to our drought-stricken livesSo those who planted their crops in […]
nearness
“How confident are you of God’s presence in your daily life?”I read that question this morning in a few moments of quiet time. I read it lightly, glancingly, because the answer in my mind was bold. Quick.“100%.” The first wave. A true enough answer. I know He’s present. I’m confident in that knowledge.The second wave came just as […]
weighty intimacy
We can only really begin to feel the weight of our circumstances when we let others in on them. Three years ago, I wasn’t letting people in. On the details, yes. On the big picture, definitely. On my heart, no. On my emotions, not even close. On my depths, never. Or so I thought. I […]
widen your hearts
Three nights before graduation, my heart burst open. The tears took me straight to my knees as five years worth of emotions caught up with me in one rush. I cupped my face in my hands, I rocked back and forth, and I felt each moment wash over me. Solely because I had asked a […]